Proverbs 2:1-5 1. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2. So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3. Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4. If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

[B] To receiver wisdom from God, two things are required. [1] One must receive the words [a] James 1:22 22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. [b] One can be around wisdom, can hear wisdom spoken, can read and study it, but unless it is received in one’s heart, and put to use, all they have head or learned is from naught [c] When I consider the wisdom we receiver from God’s Holy Word, I think of hungering and searching after righteousness the Christ spoke of [d] A wise person, hungers for more wisdom, so they search to find it. [2] To have wisdom, one must hide God’s commandments with them [a] What does this mean? [1-a] To hide the commandments with them means to make them a part of you [2-a] To hide the commandments with them means to practice them and to remember them constantly [b] Hiding his commandments does not mean that we are to hide them away, and not use them, instead it means that they become a part of you, something that you do without thinking, or without considering them. They become natural to you, and a part of your everyday life.

[A] Here Solomon is saying that we are to listen intently to wisdom [1] What good is being around wisdom if one does not listen to what is being said? [2] What good is seeking out wisdom if one refused to hear what they say

[B] He goes on to say, that we are than to apply the wisdom we hear to our heart so we can understand it [1] Not everything we hear makes sense to us, [a] Much of the bible when we read it, is confusing [b] Many of the things we study about God, just doesn’t make sense [2] When this occurs, we are to apply those things to our heart and diligently try to find understanding. [a] What good is the wisdom we see if we do not understand? [b] Why would God have placed certain things in his word if he did not want us to understand it? [3] The question than has to be asked, [a] How do we find wisdom? [b] What are we to do when we find things in God’s word that confuses us? [c] How do we find the answers to the questions we have? [d] Where do we go for help?

Verse 3- 4 - Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

[A] Basically, what Solomon is saying is, if we want understanding, if we want knowledge, we must strive for it [1] If thou criest after knowledge [a] If you ask God for knowledge [b] If you diligently search for knowledge from those who have it. [2] If thou liftest up thy voice for understanding [a] If we ask God [b] If we ask others. [3] If thou seekest knowledge as silver [a] If you desire knowledge like you desire the riches of the world [b] If you consider knowledge to be valuable and worth much [4] If you search for it like a hidden treasure [a] In other words, don’t give up [b] Knowledge is worth searching for, and striving to get

[B] Knowledge, especially the knowledge of God, and the wisdom we can have from him is worth all the effort, all the pain and all the trouble we might have to face to get it. [1] Why do we need this knowledge and wisdom from God? [2] Why should we place such a high regard on receiving it?

Verse 5 - Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

[A] Here is the answer to the last two questions.

[B] When one seeks with all their heart, they [1] Understand the fear of the Lord [2] They find the knowledge of God

Proverbs 2:6 6. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

[A] All true wisdom comes from God. [1] What do I mean by true wisdom? [a] Satan is spreading his false wisdom throughout the world [b] False wisdom denies God and the things of God [c] False wisdom tries to discredit the bible and make it a lie [d] True wisdom teaches the things of God [2] The only true wisdom is what we find in God’s Holy word,

[B] Out of God mouth comes [1] Knowledge [a] How do we receiver this knowledge from him? [b] Where do we find it? [2] Understanding [b] Where do we find this understanding? [b] How do we receiver it?Proverbs 2:7 7. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

[A] Who does the lord lay up sound wisdom for? [1] The righteous [a] What does the word righteous mean? [b] How does a righteous person act? [2] Only the righteous search for or hear him when he speaks to them [a] The unrighteous could care less about what God has to say [b] The unrighteous are busy learning from others, or thinking they know everything [c] A righteous person knows that they know very little so they go to God, and seek his help and wisdom

[B] The Lord is a buckler to them that walk uprightly [1] What is meant by a buckler? [a] A buckler is a protector [b] A buckler fights your battles for you [2] Who has the Lord promised to be a buckler too? [a] Those who walk uprightly [1-a] What does this mean? [2-a] It means those who are righteous, and living a Holy life. [b] The flip side to this is that those who do not follow the teaching of God, those who are not living a holy and acceptable life are not promised protection from God.

[C] Sound wisdom then means: [1] A person should believe in the Lord and follow his wisdom [2] True wisdom as we have spoken of before is the knowledge of the Lord [3] It would only make sense that one would determine in their heart to seek the wisdom of God, so they would have the protection of God for them and their family.

Proverbs 2:8 8. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

[A] When one is a righteous follower of the Lord, [1] He promises to keep the path of judgement [a] He will protect you along the way [b] With his help and wisdom, Satan will have no hold on you [c] When you fall he will pick you up [d] When you stumble he will catch you. [2] He preserves the way of the saints [a] Who are the saints? [1-a] The true followers of Christ [2-a] Those who are washed in the blood of the lamb

[B] Again, the flip side of this is, [1] Those who are not righteous, and do not follow Christ have no guarantees

Proverbs 2:9 9. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

[A] He who is taught of God understands the whole law of justice, mercy, righteousness, and truth;

[B] God has written his law on man’s heart.

[C] He who understands these things by books only is never likely to practice or profit by them.

[D] When one is righteous, when one seeks the wisdom of God, when one follows the Lord, then God will give them understanding [1] When you seek to learn, God will teach you [2] When you search for the answers, God will give them

[A] We talked earlier, in another study, about wisdom being the knowledge of Christ. [1] Considering this then, we might say [a] When Christ enters thy heart [b] When the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you [c] When the truths of God’s word are evident to you [d] When you believe in faith what God says is accurate [e] When you search God’s word for knowledge [2] When knowledge is pleasant to thy soul [a] When the search for God’s knowledge is first and foremost in your mind [b] When you have a desire in your heart to learn more about Christ [3] When you have a hunger in you to study God’s word and receive knowledge from it

[B] Discretion shall preserve thee [1] Those things you learn from God, the knowledge he gives you, will show you what to do and how to handle the many situations you will have to face in life [2] With the knowledge of God in you, with wisdom imparted to you from God, you will know how to live your life, how to treat your fellow men, and how to withstand the wiles of Satan

[C] Understanding will keep thee [1] Having understanding from God, will keep you safe [2] Having understanding will allow you to overcome temptation [3] Having understanding will make you wise to the things of the word and preserve you on your journey to heaven

Proverbs 2:12 12. To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

[A] That wisdom one gets from God, that knowledge he imparts on us, [1] Shows us what sin is [2] Keeps us from falling prey to an evil person, because we recognize evil when we see it [3] Makes us understand and discern lies and false talking when we hear it [B] Discernment comes from God, and is imparted to us through the Holy Spirit [1] In today’s society, we need discernment more than ever [2] Satan is using all kinds of people to deceive us and make us doubt God [3] We much have the knowledge of God, and the strength we receive from his Holy Spirit if we want to make it to heaven [a] Where do we get the knowledge we need?

Proverbs 2:13-15 13. Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14. Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 15. Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

[A] That discretion we receive because we gain knowledge from God keeps us form falling prey too [1] The man or woman who is not following the path of uprightness, and tries to get us to go down the wrong path as well [a] Have you ever noticed, when one is practicing sin, they want others to do the same things – apparently misery loves company [b] When someone is walking in darkness, [1-a] What does that imply? [2-a] Where will walking in darkness lead you? [2] It keeps us from those doing evil [a] The only way we can know what evil is, is to have the knowledge of God in us [b] A Holy person should not associate with an Ungodly person [1-a] They should witness to them, but should not become entwined with them [3] Wisdom will give us discretion so that we will not be deceived by those whose ways are Crooked [a] Knowing God and having his knowledge imparted to us, will keep us from following someone who’s ways are crooked

[B] Godly wisdom is a much needed item for a Christian in this world [1] Without it, we may fall for many of Satan’s schemes [2] We may follow the wrong teaching [3] We may start believing there are many ways to heaven instead of one [4] We may let down our guard and fall prey to the wiles of Satan